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A Question of Choice
"As a husband and as a father of a daughter, I am moved by Sarah Weddington's eloquent reminder of what Roe truly means—that our most private decisions can be made behind the closed doors of our homes, with our families, and in private conversations with our hearts."—Bill Clinton
"A milestone. . . . She recounts with clarity and fervor the remarkable story of how she, her husband and a few other lawyers, supported by a handful of doctors and pro-choice advocates, researched and prepared briefs invoking the 'right of privacy' defense as a main argument to challenge the Texas anti-abortion law."—Publishers Weekly
On the fortieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade, women's reproductive freedom is just as contested as it was before abortion was made legal. Adding a new chapter to her celebrated book about the story behind that great legal challenge, Sarah Weddington brings up-to-date the status of choice and constitutional law.
Sarah Weddington is an attorney and lecturer from Austin, Texas. She became a key figure in the reproductive rights movement when at the age of twenty-seven she successfully argued Roe v. Wade, the landmark court case that gave American women the right to abortion. She has served in the Texas House of Representatives and was a White House advisor to President Jimmy Carter. Weddington is currently a professor of law and women's studies and travels around the country lecturing on leadership and women's issues.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 3, 2008
Unlike a few of the other books I read re: the abortion debate this book was pretty conversational and a quick read. It was helpful to read the memoirs of Sarah Weddington, the woman who argued Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court, and interesting to learn her take on the question of choice and female reproductive rights.
I thought this book nicely contextualized Roe v. Wade and highlighted the critical issues that went into bringing abortion into the national spotlight. The book is not an extended defense of a woman's right to choose, rather "A Question of Choice" looks at the case of Roe v. Wade and some of the challenges that went into arguing the case.
It is a concise history of the debate and provides information on the lawyers. A quick read and a nice compliment to any study of abortion and/or legal history.
I thought this book nicely contextualized Roe v. Wade and highlighted the critical issues that went into bringing abortion into the national spotlight. The book is not an extended defense of a woman's right to choose, rather "A Question of Choice" looks at the case of Roe v. Wade and some of the challenges that went into arguing the case.
It is a concise history of the debate and provides information on the lawyers. A quick read and a nice compliment to any study of abortion and/or legal history.
May 29, 2011
I read this book years ago. I had the great opportunity to meet and hear Sarah Weddington speak when I was in college. Roe v. Wade was a significant turning point for women and their right to choose. This book reminds us of the things that won us the right to choose and also what we risk losing if we don't continue to fight for those rights.
February 23, 2013
I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Sarah Weddington while I was in college. This book was a straight forward account of the struggle for women to gain control over our bodies. A great read no matter your stance on abortion.
December 31, 2021
The details of preparing to argue Roe were interesting, but holy shit is this a depressing read in 2021.
January 8, 2010
Seminal! Must read... to remember where we have been and what we risk loosing today.
September 17, 2022
5/7. I just finished reading The Family Roe for my book club discussion, and there was very little in it about Sarah Weddington (mostly, because she did not agree to speak with the author of that book.). That book wasn't particularly flattering to her, so I went to my bookshelf and pulled out this book, which I had purchased shortly after its publication in 1992, and it remained on my TBR shelves ever since. This was an excellent memoir of her time working on Roe and the twenty years after. It was very sad to read it in 2022 -- the initial optimism about women's equality that we saw in the 1970s faded so much (similarly in the way our optimism about the power of science has faded). Almost immediately, people were seeking to chip away at this major victory for women's rights, and Weddington recognized this. The end is somewhat pessimistic, as she knew then that Roe would be overturned. She was desperately making a call to action that was largely ignored. Since this book was published in 1992, we don't see her thoughts about the appointment to SCOTUS of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and for many years, there would have been some reasons for hope. (I understand that this book was re-released later, so in the later edition we would get her thoughts about developments in the 1990s and early 2000s.). But the nail was in the coffin after 2016.
I looked up both Weddingtons to see what happened to them in recent years. I saw that Sarah Weddington had died in late 2021, and her former husband Ron died a few years earlier. It was interesting that neither ever remarried or had children (which is relatively unusual for people their age). I was a little surprised her death didn't make it onto my radar, but I suppose that kind of shows how lost this fight was. She obviously was aware that the Dobbs decision was on the SCOTUS docket, and with the vile turn the court has taken, she knew what was happening. I can only imagine her despair.
This was definitely worth reading.
I looked up both Weddingtons to see what happened to them in recent years. I saw that Sarah Weddington had died in late 2021, and her former husband Ron died a few years earlier. It was interesting that neither ever remarried or had children (which is relatively unusual for people their age). I was a little surprised her death didn't make it onto my radar, but I suppose that kind of shows how lost this fight was. She obviously was aware that the Dobbs decision was on the SCOTUS docket, and with the vile turn the court has taken, she knew what was happening. I can only imagine her despair.
This was definitely worth reading.
February 25, 2017
As an interested layperson, I enjoyed reading about Sarah Weddington's experiences and legal strategy–however naively built on the constitutional right to privacy (p. 62) rather than a more inclusive right to equality–in arguing and re-arguing the landmark class action case Roe v. Wade only four years out of law school and with little experience in the courtroom. Nearly 25 years later, so many regulations are in place that abortion is effectively inaccessible largely to poor women, young women, and women of color–the same women most affected by the procedure's illegality pre-Roe.
I found Weddington's tone at times cloying, but after all, she is a polite white female politician of a certain time and place who has had much to gain from playing by the rules. As much as Weddington talks about the camaraderie of the good old days of '70s Second Wave feminism, I was struck by how isolated and naive she seemed in her development of the case for Roe, compared to someone like Ruth Bader Ginsburg who took a broader, more long-term view and sought to build a slow and solid case for women's equality in the courts (Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg pp.64-67).
It was very interesting to read this book, published in 1993 just after Clinton's victory over Bush Sr., at the beginning of a new era of Trump fascism. In the last post-scripted chapter, it was hard to read about the promise of Clinton (Bill) without thinking of the bitterness of Hillary's recent loss and somewhat helpful to note her joy at having put 12 years of oppressive anti-choice backsliding under Reagan and Bush behind her.
I found Weddington's tone at times cloying, but after all, she is a polite white female politician of a certain time and place who has had much to gain from playing by the rules. As much as Weddington talks about the camaraderie of the good old days of '70s Second Wave feminism, I was struck by how isolated and naive she seemed in her development of the case for Roe, compared to someone like Ruth Bader Ginsburg who took a broader, more long-term view and sought to build a slow and solid case for women's equality in the courts (Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg pp.64-67).
It was very interesting to read this book, published in 1993 just after Clinton's victory over Bush Sr., at the beginning of a new era of Trump fascism. In the last post-scripted chapter, it was hard to read about the promise of Clinton (Bill) without thinking of the bitterness of Hillary's recent loss and somewhat helpful to note her joy at having put 12 years of oppressive anti-choice backsliding under Reagan and Bush behind her.
May 17, 2022
I bought this book on a whim at a thrift store 1-2 years ago and stuck it on my shelf, adding it to the hundreds of books I "might" read in my lifetime. After the past few months and the speculation brought forth by the Supreme Court leak, I felt it necessary to dust this book off and give it my attention. Sarah Weddington was only in her mid-twenties when she took on a lawsuit that asserted Texas anti-abortion laws were unconstitutional. That moment in history would spark one of the most controversial Supreme Court decisions ever made, Roe v. Wade. This book walks you through what precipitated this landmark battle, how it went down, and the twenty years of struggle in the aftermath. Although this book was published in 1993, Weddington's call to action, warning of complacency, and fear of anti-choice people in powerful places feel especially relevant in 2022. After finishing the book I went online to see what Weddington has been doing since 1993 and learned she passed away in December 2021. Thank you Sarah, to you and all who came before you, who put into motion so much that Americans take for granted. We may now live in a time where many know nothing about the doors you have opened, but I hope the future makes you proud and that we can honor your memory by picking up the baton and running.
June 29, 2022
i love the background this book provides that breaks long-standing assumptions i'd had, namely: why abortion was illegal in the first place, and when people started giving a fuck about when life begins. i also was fascinated to learn more about the legal theories, especially regarding where else in law birth is needed to count as a person. i loved hearing how the case came together, how many different approaches were taken, how a lawyer with essentially no experience killed it, and how the abortion fight continued for the next twentyish years. but then when it started going into post-roe, it just felt too close to home. all the same restrictions are cycling back 30 years later, and now roe is gone. it's helpful to learn the history of anti-abortion fanaticism (thanks, reagan!) and see how it compares to rulings from older supreme court justices who ruled ways i had not expected. the main thing that changed from this book's publication 30 years ago is that the abortion pill is very much here in the us, despite weddington's fears that it would never make it, and that republicans have become more extreme, not less. i was shocked at how many pro-choice republicans were involved here!! the last 100 pages went on far too long, and could have been edited down to about 20, but still worthwhile. it also went far too into memoir at some points and i just... didn't care about that. but legally, it was all fascinating.
January 6, 2022
I was expecting more of a textbook explanation for this topic. Instead, Sarah Weddington chose to incorporate some inside details of her journey from Austin, Texas all the way to the Supreme Court. It covers her early days up to the 1990s.
I thought her writing style was good, the only reason I gave it four stars was because I would have liked to read more about specific laws and medical science surrounding the concept of abortion.
I thought her writing style was good, the only reason I gave it four stars was because I would have liked to read more about specific laws and medical science surrounding the concept of abortion.
February 26, 2024
Wow this book was fantastic! It read more like a textbook, inspiring and super informational but definitely not a light before bed kind of read.
Major takeaways: the pro-choice battle is not over and will continue like a “see-saw”. Check out political candidate’s stances on abortion prior to voting!
I’m very appreciative of Sarah Weddington’s life commitment towards reproductive justice, and I am now inspired to volunteer towards a supportive organization.
Major takeaways: the pro-choice battle is not over and will continue like a “see-saw”. Check out political candidate’s stances on abortion prior to voting!
I’m very appreciative of Sarah Weddington’s life commitment towards reproductive justice, and I am now inspired to volunteer towards a supportive organization.
January 7, 2019
I read this book as an inspiration for a project. As expected it positively inspired me to continue and follow through with my project. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in woman/feminist rights.
May 8, 2022
A fascinating story of the origins of Roe v. Wade told by the lawyer that argued and won the case. She notes relevant details about a woman's right to choose that seem to have been glossed over in the recent leaked draft Supreme Court opinion. So much for judges that swear to abide by decided law.
February 12, 2025
This is a very informative and empowering book! I loved reading it all the way through as it was inspiring how far women’s rights had come from the 70s to the 90s, but it’s also depressing reading this in 2025 because Roe got overturned a few years ago already.
November 6, 2020
Fascinating insights into the years leading up to Roe v. Wade in Texas and across the country.
September 2, 2013
This book follows one woman's action in the pro-choice movement, which ended up having national consequences. Weddington never intended to be a star of the women's movement, and it's clear she doesn't consider herself one. She originally brought her case to state court to show solidarity with cases across the nation, and was lucky enough that hers was taken to Supreme Court. This book follows that case, plus the twenty years of aftermath. Although the book is twenty years old now, it is still a great read of the pro-choice movement. It also includes timeless support for the pro-choice side, including a section at the end of the book about how you can get involved.
It is also a great book if you are interested in learning more about our political and legal processes. I learned a lot about how a case reaches the Supreme Court and the procedures of said court. I also learned about how the selection of judges on a nine-justice panel can deeply influence our country. I also learned about how, if impassioned enough, a grass roots movement can influence our politicians. I really enjoyed this section of the book.
I only have two criticisms. First, I felt that the plot structure could have been handled differently. I first noticed a difference mid-book. In the beginning, Weddington includes a very brief review of her young life. Throughout the first half of the book she refers to her personal life, including her husband and friends. We also learn about the other career goals she ends up pursuing (she works in the White House under Jimmy Carter; this woman deserves to be admired for her accomplishments!) but after a certain point, this book turns into pure political text. Her husband dropped out of the book for a while, and I was curious about it. They ended up getting divorced, but she mentions this in a paragraph or two, a little too late. The stripping of personal information continues until the end of the book. I also thought the last chapter about action could have been removed and presented as the second part of the book, something that could stand alone from the first.
Obviously I was not there during her marriage, but I felt that Weddington's conclusions about her husband were stereotypical. She blamed their divorce on the fact that he couldn't, in the end, handle her success. But it sounded like he put in lots of work on the Roe vs. Wade case, yet never got any credit like the other lawyers who worked on it did. I don't believe he worked on the case pursuing fame, but it would be hard to live with someone who got recognition you didn't. I think it sounded like that was the issue, and she blew it off as another man who couldn't handle a successful woman - when it sounded like he loved that about her. That's just my two cents, though. I found myself disagreeing with some other points throughout her book as well.
Overall a great book, something everyone should read for information about abortion and our legal/political system.
It is also a great book if you are interested in learning more about our political and legal processes. I learned a lot about how a case reaches the Supreme Court and the procedures of said court. I also learned about how the selection of judges on a nine-justice panel can deeply influence our country. I also learned about how, if impassioned enough, a grass roots movement can influence our politicians. I really enjoyed this section of the book.
I only have two criticisms. First, I felt that the plot structure could have been handled differently. I first noticed a difference mid-book. In the beginning, Weddington includes a very brief review of her young life. Throughout the first half of the book she refers to her personal life, including her husband and friends. We also learn about the other career goals she ends up pursuing (she works in the White House under Jimmy Carter; this woman deserves to be admired for her accomplishments!) but after a certain point, this book turns into pure political text. Her husband dropped out of the book for a while, and I was curious about it. They ended up getting divorced, but she mentions this in a paragraph or two, a little too late. The stripping of personal information continues until the end of the book. I also thought the last chapter about action could have been removed and presented as the second part of the book, something that could stand alone from the first.
Obviously I was not there during her marriage, but I felt that Weddington's conclusions about her husband were stereotypical. She blamed their divorce on the fact that he couldn't, in the end, handle her success. But it sounded like he put in lots of work on the Roe vs. Wade case, yet never got any credit like the other lawyers who worked on it did. I don't believe he worked on the case pursuing fame, but it would be hard to live with someone who got recognition you didn't. I think it sounded like that was the issue, and she blew it off as another man who couldn't handle a successful woman - when it sounded like he loved that about her. That's just my two cents, though. I found myself disagreeing with some other points throughout her book as well.
Overall a great book, something everyone should read for information about abortion and our legal/political system.
July 18, 2008
I read this book to become familiar with the history of Roe v Wade and I learned the enormous impact having the choice of legal abortion accessible to us in the US. Even though it's quite an old book, the issue is very relevant today and will always be it seems. Some legal terms lost me but it wasn't too much. For all historical buffs, this is a great read coming from the lawyer who represented the plaintiff Roe herself.
September 21, 2008
With abortion rights constantly attacked and in danger of being taken away from us, I felt a need to revisit the times of Roe v. Wade.
Sarah Weddington's describes the legal process and her legal strategy of Roe V. Wade in very accessible language.
It is refreshing to read about this wonderful, intelligent, compassionate and accomplished woman especially after all the recent talk about "lipstick."
Sarah Weddington's describes the legal process and her legal strategy of Roe V. Wade in very accessible language.
It is refreshing to read about this wonderful, intelligent, compassionate and accomplished woman especially after all the recent talk about "lipstick."
February 7, 2015
I heard the author speak at APHA in 2013 and got a signed copy of this book. It's amazing that she argued Roe v. Wade when she was younger than I am, having done only a few uncontested divorces and an adoption for relatives. She does a great job laying out the legal arguments in an understandable way and capturing the movement she's been a part of and the opposition to it.
June 2, 2007
I can't believe I waited so long to read this, but it's a great story for anyone interested in reproductive rights. It also contains some excellent anecdotes about the life of a woman lawyer, well before there were very many of them running around.
May 28, 2008
sarah weddington argued her first contested case before the supreme court while in her mid-twenties. (the case was Roe v. Wade and she won.) she wrote this book about the case. it's part political history, part memoirs, and part legal thriller.
January 3, 2018
The story of Roe v. Wade written by the architect of the case. It was her first contested case out of law school. A lot of dimension to the story and the author, and an amazing even if controversial piece of history.
July 17, 2016
"As presented in public discussion and in ten-second sound bites, the issue seemed to be: Are you for or against abortion? But that was *not* the issue then and is not the issue now. The issue is: *Who* should make the decision about abortion -- the government, strangers, or women?" [254]
June 8, 2022
A memoir and critique of the ability of women to be in control of their lives. The books explores the medical, moral, and political issues of abortion. The legal analysis of the Roe decision includes the arguments against the Supreme Court decision.
September 10, 2007
Signed copy
April 17, 2008
A great explanation of the origins of the landmark case from the woman who knows the most about it; as well as a good history lesson in the pre-Roe days. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2008
A timely review of how far women's reproductive rights have come, and what we have to lose if we do not stay involved. Do we really want someone else to make those personal choices for us?
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May 1, 2012I heard Sarah Weddington speak at Augsburg College, and met her, she signed this copy!
October 12, 2013
Hearing Sarah Weddington speak was one of the most inspiring and powerful experiences of my life. This book solidified my drive to keep choice legal for all women.
October 13, 2016
great book, I'm curious how things have changed since 1992.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews